Dedicated walker

I agree with the letter by Albert Akeley (BDN, Jan. 11) regarding the “dedicated walker” captured walking on the “wrong” side of the road in a photo by NEWS photographer Susan Latham on Jan. 5.

Yes, the pedestrian was taking a chance with her own life by walking with traffic vs. against traffic as is the legal way according to the laws in Maine. My late husband and I were victims of walking on the “wrong” side of the road (residential street), albeit extenuating circumstances including speeding and driver inattention contributed to our situation. Fortunately for me, I only became an accident statistic. Unfortunately for my husband, he became a fatality statistic in Maine. It was a painful lesson to learn and a cross I will continue to bear for the rest of my life.

That being said, I would disagree with Akeley that walking on the wrong side of the road constitutes “so many pedestrian-vehicle accidents on our highways.” Stephen King’s recent pedestrian-vehicle accident dismisses the premise that walking on the wrong side of the road causes pedestrian-vehicle accidents as King was reportedly walking on the correct side of the road when his accident occurred. Driver inattention was reported as the primary reason for his accident. Carol Soucie Caribou

Walking on the wrong side of the road is sometimes more reasonable than crossing a heavily traveled state road twice to go such a short distance. You see “dedicated walker” is a kind, older lady who walks only a short distance down a hill each day to get her mail. If she crossed this state road in the rain twice for a five-minute walk, I am sure you can envision a pedestrian-vehicle accident. What was intended by the photographer as a personal interest photo should be taken as such. This lady is my friend and doesn’t deserve such criticism. Betty Agrell Bradley